OCD Treatment in Louisville, KY
FDA-cleared BrainsWay H7 Deep TMS for adults and adolescents 15 and older with obsessive-compulsive disorder that has not fully responded to medication or therapy.
Triple-Board Certified, Expert Care
In-Network with Major Insurance Carriers
FDA-Cleared, Evidence-Based Treatments
Coordinated Care
What is Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic mental health condition characterized by unwanted, intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive behaviors or mental acts (compulsions) that a person feels driven to perform to reduce anxiety. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, OCD affects approximately 1.2% of adults in the United States in any given year.
First-line treatments for OCD include SSRIs and a specific form of therapy called exposure and response prevention (ERP). When these have not provided adequate relief, Deep TMS with the BrainsWay H7 coil is an FDA-cleared non-medication option.
How we treat OCD
OCD is considered treatment-resistant when symptoms remain significantly impairing after:
- At least one adequate trial of an SSRI (typically 12 weeks at maximum tolerated dose)
- Access to or trial of exposure and response prevention therapy
Deep TMS for OCD is specifically indicated for patients in this situation.
Deep TMS
Deep TMS with the BrainsWay H7 coil — FDA-cleared specifically for OCD. The H7 coil targets the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex, brain regions implicated in OCD. This is a different coil than the H1 used for depression. A standard course is 29 sessions over 6 weeks, with each session including a brief symptom provocation protocol followed by 18 minutes of active treatment. Published 1-year durability data (Harmelech et al., Brain Stimulation, 2022).
Medication Management
Medication optimization — When OCD may respond to a medication strategy that has not been tried: SSRI dose escalation, SSRI augmentation with an atypical antipsychotic, or newer agents. Can be used alongside Deep TMS or ERP therapy.
Do I qualify for Deep TMS for OCD at Bluegrass Advanced Mental Health?
You are likely a candidate if:
- You are 15 years of age or older
- You have been diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder
- You have tried at least one SSRI at adequate dose and duration without adequate relief
- You have had access to or completed a trial of exposure and response prevention therapy
- You are medically stable and not in a severe psychiatric crisis
- You have insurance that covers Deep TMS for OCD (most commercial plans do)
The fastest way to find out is a free 5-minute screening call with our Patient Care team. We verify your insurance, confirm clinical criteria, and schedule your first appointment. No obligation.
What to expect from Deep TMS for OCD
Your first visit is a 60-90 minute evaluation with Dr. Roth or a clinical team member. We review your full OCD history, prior medications, therapy history, current symptoms using the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), and medical conditions. By the end you have a treatment plan, a timeline, and an insurance estimate.
Treatment course: 29 sessions over 6 weeks, scheduled Monday through Friday. Each session is about 20 minutes total in the clinic. Deep TMS is non-invasive — you remain awake and alert and return to normal activities immediately. We measure your response with Y-BOCS periodically during treatment.
What outcomes to expect
Clinical trial data for Deep TMS with the H7 coil in treatment-resistant OCD shows statistically significant Y-BOCS reduction compared to sham treatment.
Response rates in resistant populations are approximately 38-45% in published trials, with response defined as a 30% or greater reduction in Y-BOCS score.
Disclaimer paragraph: Individual results vary. Response rates in treatment-resistant populations are lower than in less-treated populations because these patients have already not responded to one or more prior interventions. Dr. Roth will discuss realistic expected outcomes based on your specific history during your evaluation.
1-year durability Deep TMS for OCD using the BrainsWay H7 coil
Source - Harmelech et al. Brain Stimulation 2022
What does treatment cost?
With insurance: We are in-network with Aetna, Anthem, Cigna, Humana, Medicare, TRICARE, and UnitedHealthcare. Most patients pay only their standard specialist copay or coinsurance per session. Medicare covers Deep TMS for OCD.
Our Patient Care team verifies your specific benefits before any treatment begins.
Frequently asked questions
Q. Is Deep TMS safe for OCD?
A. Yes. Deep TMS with the BrainsWay H7 coil is FDA-cleared for OCD. It is non-invasive, requires no sedation, and has no systemic medication side effects. The most common side effect is scalp discomfort at the treatment site, which typically resolves within the first few sessions.
Q. Can teenagers get Deep TMS for OCD?
A. Yes, Deep TMS with the H7 coil is FDA-cleared for adolescents 15 and older. Dr. Roth is board-certified in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (DFAACAP), making Bluegrass Advanced Mental Health one of the few Louisville practices qualified to deliver Deep TMS for teens with OCD.
Q. Do I have to stop therapy during TMS?
A. No, we encourage patients to continue exposure and response prevention (ERP) therapy during TMS. Many patients find that Deep TMS reduces baseline OCD intensity enough that ERP exercises become more tolerable and effective.
Q. How is this different from Standard TMS for depression?
A. Standard TMS (rTMS) uses the BrainsWay H1 coil for depression. Deep TMS for OCD uses the BrainsWay H7 coil, which reaches deeper and broader brain regions than standard TMS and specifically targets the medial prefrontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex implicated in OCD.
Q. Will my insurance cover Deep TMS for OCD?
A. More insurance carriers are increasingly covering TMS for OCD when criteria is met, especially if there is a comorbid diagnosis of OCD with depression.
Ready to see if Deep TMS for OCD is right for you?
A 5-minute screening call with our patient care team tells you if Deep TMS may be a fit, verifies your insurance coverage, and can schedule your first appointment. Call (502) 856-7378.
